Nato's summit must face up to Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine and the
extremist Islamic State's advances in Iraq

A cyclist passes the security fence that has been erected in front of Cardiff Castle for the Nato summitPhoto: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen

8:22PM BST 29 Aug 2014

Today’s Europe is an island of stability in a sea of conflict. To the east, Russia has added its own military forces to the separatist conflict that it manufactured in Ukraine. To the south, growing instability and extremism are fuelled by fragile states and sectarian strife.

Nato’s greatest responsibility is to protect and defend our allies – the 28 member states – against any attack. We also need to strengthen our ability to deal with crises, and to work with partners to preserve the international rules-based order.

As we gather for our summit in Wales next week, our response to Russia’s aggression and to the crisis in Iraq will be key topics on the agenda. They pose very different security challenges, and demand different responses. The rise of the Islamic State (Isil) threatens to destabilise the region. The communities of Iraq are starting to unite against this common threat. Determined action by the United States and other Nato allies has blunted the terrorists’ advance, but it remains a long-term challenge.

The nomination of Haider Al Abadi as prime minister-designate was an important move. The swift formation of an inclusive government that represents the legitimate interests and aspirations of all Iraqis is a key step towards overcoming Isil. The international community has an obligation to help, but it is up to the Iraqi government to request that support and to demonstrate leadership to address its challenges. Until 2011, Nato supported Iraq with a mission to develop its military training and institutions, and we remain committed to our partnership. While Iraq has asked several members of the alliance for help, it has not made any specific request to Nato. I expect that, in Wales, we will discuss the implications of the situation in Iraq for our security and possible Nato support for the international effort.

The Ukraine crisis erupted just as suddenly, but its origins are very different. Where Iraq’s troubles were largely internal, the Ukraine crisis was clearly made in Moscow. While talking about peace, Russia has not taken a single step in that direction. Rather, it has done the opposite. Russia continues to supply separatists with equipment, fighters and funding. And over the past two weeks, it has significantly escalated the conflict with direct military action in Ukraine.

Satellite images released by Nato this week show that well over 1,000 Russian soldiers, equipped with sophisticated heavy weaponry, are inside Ukraine’s territory. They are operating from about a dozen locations and have hundreds of Russian combat vehicles. These troops are not volunteers and they have not just lost their way; they are highly trained professional combat troops.

This marks a dramatic shift in the conflict. Russian soldiers are now in the middle of the fight and Moscow is running out of ways to hide it.

What Russia is doing in Ukraine poses a threat to a rules-based international system and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring states. President Putin has said that Russia reserves the right to take military action in any country where Russian citizens live. That includes countries within Nato.

These threats, President Putin’s disregard for Russia’s international commitments and the subversive tactics his nation employs, require a response. We have, therefore, more than doubled air and sea patrols in the Baltic States, Poland and Romania, and intensified exercises in the region. We have suspended Nato’s cooperation with Russia. We have increased our support to Ukraine. Our unity is our strength, and we have shown it: every single member of the alliance is contributing to this effort.

In addition to the measures taken, we will look to the longer term at the summit. Nato will have a more visible presence in Central and Eastern Europe, for as long as necessary. We will ensure that we have the right forces and the right equipment in the right place, at the right time. We will develop what I would call a spearhead within our Nato Response Force: a very high readiness force, able to deploy at very short notice. This spearhead would be provided by Allies in rotation, and could include several thousand troops, ready to respond where needed with air, sea and special forces support. This will require reception facilities on Nato territory and pre-positioned equipment and supplies. We will upgrade our intelligence gathering and sharing; update our defence plans; and expand our training schedule.

This will require investment and commitment from every member of the alliance. It is not enough to rely on a few strong and ready countries, such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom. I expect a common commitment to increase defence investments as our economies recover, and for allies to spend the right amount of money on the right things – deployable forces, well-trained and well-equipped. While conflicts rage on our borders, we need to keep our defences strong and our reflexes sharp. That will be our priority at the Wales summit.